These Cherry Thumbprint Cookies are soft and buttery with a sweet maraschino cherry center and a hint of almond for that classic, nostalgic flavor. Simple ingredients come together to create a cookie that looks special and tastes even better.
These Cherry Blossom Cookies are soft and buttery with a bright maraschino cherry center and a hint of almond for classic, nostalgic flavor. They look bakery-worthy but come together easily with simple steps and everyday ingredients.
If you are searching for easy cherry cookies or classic cherry blossom cookies, this recipe delivers every time. They are perfect for holidays, parties, and special occasions when you want something beautiful without extra effort.
What makes these cookies especially lovable is their flexibility. Keep them simple with just the cherry on top or add a soft pink drizzle for a more festive look, while the cookies stay tender and delicate either way.
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💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Soft, tender texture. The butter and powdered sugar create a delicate cookie that stays pale and soft instead of crisp.
- Classic cherry flavor. Maraschino cherries add sweetness, moisture, and that iconic look people recognize instantly.
- Simple but beautiful. No chilling, shaping tools, or complicated techniques needed to get impressive results.
🛒 Ingredients
- Unsalted butter. This is the foundation of the recipe, giving the cookies their rich flavor and soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Powdered sugar. Using powdered sugar instead of granulated sugar keeps the cookies smooth and tender rather than crisp.
- Almond extract. A small amount delivers that classic cherry cookie flavor and enhances the sweetness of the cherries.
- Maraschino cherries. They add moisture, color, and the signature look that makes these cookies instantly recognizable.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Store-brand staples: Generic butter, powdered sugar, and cherries work just as well as name brands in this recipe.
Stretch the cherries: Cut cherries in half to double the number of cookies you can top from one jar.
Skip the glaze: Leaving off the drizzle saves ingredients while keeping the cookies just as delicious.
🥄 Instructions for Cherry Thumbprint Cookies
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2: Remove cherries from jar and let rest on paper towels to absorb as much liquid as possible (Image 1).
Step 3: Add your powdered sugar to a large mixing bowl with the butter (Image 2). Beat butter and powdered sugar until light and creamy (Image 3), then add vanilla and almond extract (Image 4).
Step 4: Mix in flour (Image 5) and salt until a soft dough forms (Image 6).
Step 5: Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place evenly on the baking sheet (Image 7).
Step 6: Press one maraschino cherry gently into the center of each cookie (Image 8).
Step 7: Bake for 12 to 14 minutes until the edges are set but not browned (Image 9). Rest on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
Step 8: For the optional cherry drizzle, add the powdered sugar, cherry juice and almond extract to a bowl (Image 10) and whisk together until smooth (Image 11). Drizzle over the top of your cookies (Image 12) and let set. Enjoy!
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Do not overbake. These cookies should stay pale. Browning means they are overdone and will lose their tender texture.
- Dry the cherries well. Excess moisture can affect the dough and cause spreading.
- Expect a soft dough. The dough should feel slightly soft and delicate, which is exactly what gives the cookies their melt-in-your-mouth finish.
❄️ Storage and Make Ahead
Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Make Ahead: Prepare the dough up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate. Let it soften slightly before shaping.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
These cookies pair well with fresh fruit, vanilla ice cream, or as part of a holiday cookie tray with other classic cookies. Chocolate desserts also complement the sweet cherry flavor without overpowering it.
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- Pink Chocolate Covered StrawberriesRecipe $2.33 / Serving $0.47
❓ Recipe FAQs
No! This cherry thumbprint cookie dough requires no chilling, so you can shape and bake the cookies right away.
Use your thumb or the back of a small measuring spoon to gently press a well into the center of each dough ball. Avoid pressing all the way through the bottom.
Small cracks around the edges are normal. Gently pinch them back together with your fingers. If the dough feels crumbly, make sure you measured the flour correctly. Spoon it into your measuring cup and level it off instead of scooping directly from the bag.
Yes! Fill each indentation with about ½ teaspoon of thick cherry, strawberry, raspberry, or apricot jam before baking. Avoid overfilling, since jam can bubble and spread in the oven. The cookies will have a softer, fruit-filled center instead of a whole cherry.
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🐝 If you tried these Cherry Thumbprint Cookies, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Cherry Thumbprint Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened - ($1.48)
- ½ cup powdered sugar - ($0.14)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract - ($0.04)
- ½ teaspoon almond extract, optional - ($0.12)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour - ($0.27)
- ¼ teaspoon salt - ($0.01)
- 24 maraschino cherries, drained and patted dry - ($2.96)
Optional Cherry Drizzle
- ½ cup powdered sugar - ($0.14)
- 1-2 teaspoon Maraschino cherry juice
- ½ teaspoon almond extract - ($0.12)
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Drain cherries: Remove cherries from the jar and let rest on paper towels to absorb as much liquid as possible.
- Cream butter and sugar: Add your powdered sugar to a large mixing bowl with the butter. Beat until light and creamy, then add vanilla and almond extract.
- Mix dough: Mix in flour and salt until a soft dough forms.
- Shape: Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place evenly on the baking sheet.
- Add cherries: Press one maraschino cherry gently into the center of each cookie.
- Bake: Bake for 12 to 14 minutes until the edges are set but not browned.
- Cool: Rest on the pan for 5 minutes
Notes
- Baking: Remove cookies as soon as the edges are set to keep them soft and pale.
- Cherries: Pat dry thoroughly to prevent excess moisture.
- Dough: A soft, delicate dough is expected and creates a tender texture.
- Flavor: Almond extract is traditional but can be adjusted or omitted.
Nutritional Information
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